Northern Graphite has started relocating processing infrastructure to its Okanjande graphite mine in Namibia as the Canadian company moves closer to restarting production at the operation in late 2027.
The company announced that it has awarded a contract to Namibia-based Rotary Engineering Services to dismantle the remaining plant infrastructure at the former Okorusu site and transport it to Okanjande for reassembly. The relocation work is expected to be completed by the end of June 2026.
The move marks a key operational step in Northern Graphite’s broader strategy to position Okanjande as a future supplier of flake graphite feedstock to its planned Battery Anode Material (BAM) facility in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, which is targeted for initial production in 2028.
“This is a tangible step forward for Northern as we prepare to restart production at Okanjande,” Northern Graphite chief executive officer Hugues Jacquemin said.
“It puts us on a clear path toward supplying our planned joint venture BAM facility in Yanbu, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, supporting Northern’s broader mine-to-battery strategy,” he added.
Okanjande, located near Otjiwarongo, is currently on care and maintenance following previous operational challenges and ownership changes in Namibia’s graphite sector. Northern Graphite views the mine as a strategic long-term asset capable of supplying both industrial graphite markets and the fast-growing battery materials sector.
The company previously completed a preliminary economic assessment in 2023 evaluating the relocation of the processing plant from Okorusu to the Okanjande mine site instead of rehabilitating the mill at its original location. The assessment, prepared by CREO Engineering Solutions, concluded that relocating the plant was both technically and economically viable.
By moving the plant closer to the mine, Northern expects to lower operating costs by eliminating the need to transport mineralised material over long distances between sites.
The company also believes the relocation will improve sustainability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create room for future expansion at the operation. Northern is further evaluating the possible use of solar power and dry tailings technology to reduce water consumption and improve the environmental profile of the mine.
Graphite from Okanjande is expected to feed both traditional industrial markets, including refractory products for steelmaking, heat management systems in electronics and friction products used in the automotive sector, as well as emerging battery and national security supply chains.
Jacquemin said Okanjande’s location in Namibia gives it advantages over many competing African graphite projects.
“Okanjande has a large resource located in one of the most politically stable countries in Africa, with easy access to a deep-water port which provides substantial competitive advantages over most other African projects,” he said.
Northern Graphite is currently the only flake graphite producer in North America and is pursuing what it describes as a “mine-to-battery” strategy through its Battery Materials Group, which is advancing battery anode material plans in Saudi Arabia, Quebec and France.
The company’s graphite portfolio includes the producing Lac des Iles mine in Quebec, the Bissett Creek project in Ontario and the fully permitted Okanjande mine in Namibia. Northern says all its projects contain “battery quality” graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.
